By Matthew Wheaton
GALESBURG — After receiving offers from just over a dozen college football programs, Galesburg High School senior Nolan Carl has decided what one he’ll hit the gridiron for.
Carl will suit up for Upper Iowa University, an NCAA Division II school located in Fayette, Iowa, and he’ll have someone he’s pretty close with as a teammate. Nolan’s brother, Aaron Carl, appeared in four games and wrapped up a redshirt freshman season at tight end for the Peacocks in the fall. Upper Iowa went 1-10 overall in 2022.
“Aaron being there obviously played a little bit of a role but I don’t think that’s what ultimately made me decide on Upper Iowa,” Nolan Carl said. “It was just kind of being there and in the atmosphere. I really like what the coaches have going. They’re coming off a rough season, and I just like the opportunity to turn things around and see what we can do.
“I think they really have a good thing going there. It’s a really good opportunity for me. I’m excited,” Carl added. “They’re moving to a new conference. They’re going from the Northern Sun (Intercollegiate Conference) to the Great Lakes Valley Conference, so I’ll be a little closer to home for games.”
Carl played on offense (tight end and wideout) and defense (outside linebacker) for the Silver Streaks. However, he plans to be strictly a linebacker for the Peacocks, and Carl knows what he needs to work on moving forward.
“I need to get in the weight room more. I’m a little light for linebacker but I’m also pretty tall and lanky so I think that makes up for it,” said Carl, who stands in at 6-foot-5 and weights 200 pounds. “I need to put on a good amount of weight if I want to see playing time this season for sure.”
More about the Great Lakes Valley
The Peacocks began competing in the Northern Sun in 2006. Upper Iowa has been a member of NCAA Division II since 2003 when it reclassified from Division III and is the 14th member of the GLVC.
“We are quite pleased to welcome Upper Iowa University as the newest member of the Great Lakes Valley Conference,” GLVC commissioner Jim Naumovich said in a release in late November. “Their addition to the GLVC for the 2023-24 academic year will expand the league’s geographic footprint into the state of Iowa and provide scheduling stability for sports such as football and wrestling,”
The GLVC was established in 1978. Along with Upper Iowa, current members of the GLVC are Drury University (Springfield, Missouri), University of Illinois Springfield (Springfield, Illinois), University of Indianapolis (Indianapolis, Indiana), Lewis University (Romeoville, Illinois), Maryville University (St. Louis, Missouri), McKendree University (Lebanon, Illinois), Missouri University of Science & Technology (Rolla, Missouri), University of Missouri-St. Louis (St. Louis, Missouri), Quincy University (Quincy, Illinois), Rockhurst University (Kansas City, Missouri), Southwest Baptist University (Bolivar, Missouri), Truman State University (Kirksville, Missouri) and William Jewell College (Liberty, Missouri).
In case you didn’t know…
Per NCAA rules, a student-athlete can participate in up to four football games during a redshirt season and doing so does not count as one of the four years as an active roster player.
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